handel



July 23, 1963 5. J. HANDEL, JR

TERMINAL APPLICATOR CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet x Original Filed Dec.16, 1948 VENTQR we John Hanckfi: M

ATTOR y 1963 G. J. HANDEL, JR Re. 25,423

TERMINAL APPLICATOR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec. 16, 1948 6Sheets-Sheet 2 *4 INVENTOR 609mg? Jo'fzrz HandeLJr.

ATTORN July 23, 1963 G. J. HANDEL, JR 25,423

TERMINAL APFLICATOR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec. 16, 1948 sSheets-Sheet s INVENTOP --L- geoi' e Jb/zn HandeLJk BY M, M 7 4 ATTORNJuly 23, 1963 G. J. HANDEL, JR

TERMINAL APPLICATOR CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Dec.

INVENTOP geozye John HandeQ/z:

. M M r ,5

ATTORNE July 23, 1963 G. J. HANDEL, JR

TERMINAL APPLICATOR CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Dec.16, 1948 INVENTO 001' e John Handel, Jr. 9 Z; w

ATTORNE July 23, 1963 G. J. HANDEL, JR Re. 25,423

TERMINAL APPLICATOR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec. 16, 1948 6Sheets-Sheet 6 feorye Jo/zrz Handel, Jr.

United States Patent Of Re. 25,423 Reissued July 23, 1963 ice 25,423TERMINAL APPLICATOR CONSTRUCTION George J. Handel, Jr., Camp Hill, Pa.,assignor to AMP Incorporated, a corporation of New Jersey Original No.2,705,797, dated Apr. 12, 1955, Ser. No. 65,646, Dec. 16, 1948.Application for reissue Aug. 1, 1958, Ser. No. 755,830

6 Claims. (Cl. 1-177) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to a terminal applicator construction forautomatically applying an electrical terminal or connector to a piece ofwire. As set forth herein the construction includes a region of terminalapplication protected by a safety guard and is so constituted that whenan operator inserts a wire through the guard into the region of terminalapplication and actuates a press arrangernent, a preformed terminalblank from a supply of blanks associated with the applicator isautomatically and instantly applied to the Wire to make a permanent andelectrically efiicient connection therewith.

In the illustration of the invention here given my applicatorconstruction forms a part of a press assembly incorporating a reel ofpreformed electrical terminals integrally attached in end-to-endfashion. Each terminal includes an ordinary ring tongue and aferrule-forming portion. The ferrule-forming portion embodies atroughlike base which, upon application, will embrace a wire, and an earprojecting upwardly on each side of the base presenting with the base aU-shaped cross section as viewed perpendicular to the ferrule axis. Uponapplication these areas are crimped into intimate contact with the wire.The strip of terminals per se is not a part of my invention but isbroadly described and claimed in an application of William S. Watts,filed December 14, 1943, Serial No. 514,214, now abandoned. Othermodifications of preformed terminals useful for automatic applicationsand other applicator constructions and modifications thereof than theone specifically described hereinafter embodying my invention willreadily occur to those skilled in the art.

Various mechanisms have been proposed heretofore for performing the samegeneral functions as my constructions. Most of these have embodied apress of general application modified to support a crimping and feedingmechanism. Some of these machines have been satisfactory, as where thedemand of the user was for a huge number of identical terminals appliedto an equally huge number of identical pieces of wire such that themachines could be elaborately set up and adjusted with full knowledgethat the great number of terminals installed would reduce the cost perunit sufiiciently to make the initial investment recoverable. Ingeneral, however, it has not been a simple matter to put these machinesinto operation or to change these machines to adapt them to applying adifferent kind of terminal to some other kind of wire. And there haslong remained an unsupplied demand for a compact, relatively lightweightautomatic machine which could easily be adapted to apply automaticallyany one of a considerable variety of electrical terminals or connectors.

A machine incorporating my invention can supply this demand and at thesame time be so constructed and arranged that most of the parts in theorganization can be inexpensively produced. The result is that myapplicators can be maintained in optimum condition by an ordinarymechanic superficially familiar with lightweight production machineryand without the help of a tool maker or setup man. All of the parts arereadily assembled or disassembled and the only pieces which are subjectto appreciable wear may readily be obtained as stock parts and installedwithout extraordinary skill. In addition, when changing an applicator toenable it to install a different kind of terminal, the changes necessarycan readily be accomplished simply by unbolting a few parts, as will bedescribed hereinafter, and by assembling from a stock of parts, inaccordance with a simple set of instructions, a crimping and shearingassembly suitable for applying the terminals desired.

These attributes are of particular importance when it is borne in mindthat these terminal applicators find their primary utility in productionrooms where electrical harnesses are being fabricated, electronicchassis wired, or the like, and where semi-skilled electrical assemblersare common but tool makers, setup men, and skilled machinists are, ineliect, unavailable except upon special prearrangement and then only atconsiderable expense. To have a machine operable, convertible from oneterminal to another, and requiring no precise setup or adjustment meansthe dillerence between efficient operation on the one hand and spoilageof parts, delays and annoyance to all concerned on the other.

It is an object of my invention to provide a terminal applicatorconstruction of the character described having to a notable extent thecapabilities and characteristics set forth. A further objective is toprovide an applicator which overcomes certain disadvantages inherent inprevious machines intended for performing the same general functions asmine. A further objective is to provide a lightweight, low costapplicator assembly in which a terminal fee-ding mechanism and aterminal applying mechanism can be installed and maintained by anordinary mechanic. Another object is the provision in a press of apracticable apparatus for applying terminals in which any one of severalterminal feeding relationships may be selected and with which any one ofseveral terminal applying assemblies may be combined all as a matter ofmere routine. A further objective is to provide a simple and low costapplicator construction which can be adapted by an ordinary maintenanceworker to applying any one of a large variety of electrical terminals.Another objective is to provide a terminal applying machine wherein onlya few wearing parts are present and in which all of the wearing partsmay readily be replaced without requiring the services of a skilledmechanic. A still further object resides in the provision of a feedingassembly wherein the length of feed may readily and accurately beadjusted. Yet another object is to provide a terminal applicatorassembly combined from a selection of parts from a stocked range ofstandard parts and so constituted that it may be installed as a wholeinto a standard press. A further object is to provide an automaticterminal applying machine which is sufficiently lightweight to permitmovement from place to place in a plant as needs arise, which does notrequire a large initial capital investment, and which can be so easilyconverted to use with any one of a wide variety of terminals as torender its use feasibly on what have heretofore been considered as smalllot production runs. Other objects will in part be pointed out as thedescription proceeds and will in part become apparent therefrom.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, methods of operation and arrangements of partsas will be exemplified in the structure and sequences and groups ofrelated steps to be hereinafter described and the scope of theapplication of which will be set forth in the accompanying claims.

In this specification and the accompanying drawings I have shown anddescribed a preferred embodiment of my invention and suggested variousmodifications thereof; but it is to be understood that these are notintended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but, on thecontrary, are given for purposes of illustration in order that othersskilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principlesthereof and the manner of applying it in various forms, each as may bebest suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary machine embodying myinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the machine illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the machine illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on an enlarged scale along the line44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on an enlarged scale along the line5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE3;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of some of theparts illustrated in FIGURE 4 shown at the completion of a crimpingstroke;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of some of the partsillustrated in FIGURE 7 taken from the left as viewed in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is an exploded perspective view of those parts of theapplicator assembly which are carried by the ram of the press;

FIGURE 10 is an exploded perspective view of some of the parts of theapplicator assembly which are carried by the bed of the press;

FIGURE 11 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal stripper whichforms a part of the applicator assembly;and

FIGURE 12 is an exploded perspective view of a guard which forms a partof the applicator assembly.

FIGURES l, 2 and 3 illustrate one embodiment of the invention in amachine consisting essentially of a press generally indicated at 20, 'aterminal feeding assembly generally indicated at 22, and a terminalapplicator generally indicated at 24. The press includes a relativelyrugged casting 26, the upper portions of which form a pair of arbormounts 28 and 29 in which is fixed an arbor 30. The arbor forms thepivot for a rocking bar 32, one end 34 of which is coupled to a pistonrod 36 forming a part of a power unit; in the present embodiment thepower unit takes the form of a pneumatically operated cylinder generallyindicated at 38. The other arm 40 of the rocking bar carries atransversely disposed toggle pin 42 upon which is journaled a togglelink 44 (see FIGURE 3). The lower end of link 44 is pivotally pinned tothe upper end of a ram 46. Ram 46 is constrained to vertical movementwithin the body of casting 26 with the aid of guide faces 48 and 50 andplate 52. For purposes of disassembly, inspection, or otherwise plate 52may readily be removed by unscrewing machine screws 54.

In the illustrative form of press the parts normally occupy therelationship illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein ram 46 is at the top of itsstroke and the piston within cylinder 38 is at the bottom of thecylinder. The parts are returned to this position of rest by tensionsprings 56 which are spread between a yoke 58 retained on piston rod 36,and the bottom of the cylinder. When air under pressure is supplied tocylinder 38 its piston is forced upwardly carrying arm 34 with it andforcing arm 40 downwardly.

Casting 26 is provided with a pedestal 60 underlying the ram (see alsoFIGURES 2, 4 and 5). Pedestal 60 forms a support for an adjustable bed62 upon which part of the applicator assembly is mounted, as will be setforth hereinafter. As pointed out above, the bottom limit of movement ofram 46 is fixed, and in order to facilitate easy adjustments to theheight of the region of terminal application, between the bottom of theram and the top of the bed, mechanism is provided for raising orlowering the surface of bed 62 with respect to edestal 60. Ordinarilybed 62 is clamped solidly and rigidly to pedestal 60 by a pair of screws64 and 66. In order to raise or lower bed 62 with respect to pedestal 69it is necessary only to loosen screws 64 and 66 and to apply adjustmentsto the height of the bed by turning an adjustment bolt 68. This isaccomplished by mechanism now to be described.

As shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, bed 62 incorporates interiorly thereof apair of triangularly shaped blocks 70 and 71. Block 70 presents adownwardly-facing, sloping surface 72; block 71 presents anupwardly-facing, sloping surface 73. Bolt 68 is threaded throughopenings in pedestal 6t) and carries in threaded engagement upon itscentral portion a double-acting wedge member 74. Member 74 presents anupwardly-facing, sloping surface 76 in face-to-face contact with surface72 and a downwardly-facing, sloping surface 77 in f ace-to-face contactwith surface 73. As shown in FIGURE 4, if wedge member 74 is caused bybolt 68 to move to the right, the action of the sloping surfaces 76 land72 will force bed 62 to move upwardly, where it can be clamped in placeby screws 64 and 66. Or if bolt 68 is so turned as to move wedge member74 to the left, as viewed in FIG- URE 4, the action of the slopingsurfaces 77 and 73 will force the height of bed 62 with respect topedestal 60 to be lowered. For a more complete disclosure of the detailsof the press and its operation reference should be had to theapplication of Harold E. Cootes filed concurrently herewith.

As will be developed more fully hereinafter the illustrative machine isso constituted that upon each downward stroke of the ram a terminal isseparated from a strip of terminals and is crimped at the region ofterminal applicaito-n. In order to make sure that upon every stroke ofthe ram a terminal will be available at the region of terminalapplication and there so oriented as to be received and formed by thecrimping dies, all as will be brought out later herein, there isprovided a feeding assembly, heretofore indicated at 22, coordinatedwith the ram action in such fashion that upon every cycle it willpresent the end terminal of the series without fail in proper positionfor the next application. Feeding assembly 22 will now be described.

As shown in FIGURE 3 casting 26 carries a rearwardly extendingbifurcated bracket 78. Between the two leaves of bracket 78 there ispivotally mounted a feed lever 80. In the illustrative form lever 80 isjournaled upon a pin 82 extending through a pair of aligned openings 84in the leaves of bracket 78. For reasons which will be amplified laterin this description it is desirable that the length of the feedingoperation performed by assembly 22 shall be readily adjustable andtoward this end the leaves of bracket 78 are also provided with alignedpairs of openings 86, 88, and 92; pin 82 may be inserted through anypair of the openings 84, 86, 88, 90 or 92. Lever 80 itself carries aseries of five pivot openings, one for each of the five pairs ofopenings in the leaves of bracket 78. The result of this arrangement isthat regardless of which set of openings pin 82 may extend through thegeneral height of lever 80 with respect to bracket 78 does not change.The only change which flows from different settings of pin 82 is thelocation of the pivot point of lever 80 with respect to bracket 78.

Lever 80 at its top end forms a pivot support for a feed adjustmentlever 94 pinned to the top of lever 30 by a pivot pin 96. Toward thebottom of adjustment lever 94 a pair of arms 98 extend inwardly, one oneach side of the bottom of feed lever 89. The lowermost portion of feedadjustment lever 94 carries another pair of inwardly extending arms 16!)with a pivot pin 102 extending therethrough. On the far end of pivot pin102,

as viewed in FIGURE 3, the right-hand end of a tension spring 104 issecured. The left-hand end of tension spring 104 is secured to a pin 106set in casing 26. The action of spring 104 is always to urge the lowerend of adjustment lever 94 to the left and in a clockwise direction withrespect to pivot pin 96. The relationship of the lower end of lever 94may be adjusted with respect to the lower end of lever 80 against thetension of spring 104 by the setting of an adjustment screw 108 threadedthrough lever 94 opposite arms 98 and extending therebetween to bearupon the lower end of feed lever 80. The setting of adjustment screw 108may be locked by means of a locking collar 110 threaded upon the shankof adjustment screw 108 in a position to impose a jamming action uponthe threads of screw 108 within lever 94.

Pin 102 forms a swinging pivot support for the upper end of feed finger112, the lower left-hand end of which as viewed in FIGURE 3, is disposedto execute a pushing action with respect to a series of terminalsassociated with and directed into the applicator, as will be describedlater. Whenever the end terminal of the series of terminals is appliedto a wire and removed, finger 112 functions automatically incoordination with other movements forming a part of one cycle ofoperation to feed the series of terminals to the left, as viewed inFIGURE 3, so as to bring the next terminal of the series to the regionof terminal application. It is important, of course, in order that thecrimping and shearing operations shall accomplish their intendedresults, that the end terminal be fed not too far and yet far enough.

With a machine embodying my invention it is a simple matter, whenadjusting the mechanism to perform a series of operations automatically,to set the end terminal manually in its correct position while themachine is at rest. Each strip of terminals incorporating the inventionof the aforementioned Watts application is so constituted that everyterminal presents an abutment which serves to receive measured pushingoperations imposed upon the strip. If each pushing operation is of thecorrect length and if the end of the feed stroke is correctly limited,once the strip of terminals has been properly oriented in relation tothe shearing and crimping operations, thereafter each feeding operationwill successively locate the end terminal in its correct position foranother terminal applying operation. In the present embodiment finger112 is constantly urged in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFIGURE 3, by a spring 114 centered upon pin 102 and hearing at one endupon a lower portion of adjustment lever 94 and at its other end upon anintermediate portion of feed finger 112. Thus when feed finger 112 iscarried to the right, its lower end rides over the abutment of the nextterminal and at once assumes a position to push the next terminal to theleft. The extent to which the end of feed finger 112 pushes the strip ofterminals to the left can be accurately and easily set While the machineis at rest by adjustments made to screw 103 against the pressure ofspring 104, varying the spacing between the lower ends of adjustmentlever 94 and feed lever 98.

In order to perform a feeding operation each time that a terminal isapplied, I have provided a push rod 116 slidably disposed in ahorizontal guideway formed in casting 26 adjacent to the path followedby ram 46. Ram 46 includes a cam surface 118 cut in one of its verticalsides in such position (see Fi'GURE 3) as to cause push rod 116 to moveto the right in simple harmonic motion each time that the ram isbottomed. Each time push rod 116 is moved to the right the lower end offeed lever 80 is caused to move to the right, counterclockwise withrespect to pin 82, carrying with it adjustment lever 94. The result isthat feed finger 112 is drawn to the right, the lower end of the fingerriding over the next terminal of the series until it passes beyond theabutment of the next terminal.

The extent to which the lower end of feed finger 112 is moved to theright is not so critical as the precise limit to which it is moved onthe left. The finger must be moved to the right far enough to ride overthe abutment of the next terminal in the series and it may travelslightly beyond that point. For even though it does travel a littlebeyond the next rearward terminal abutment, it will pick up the nextterminal on the return feeding stroke when it reaches the abutment andthe overtravel will simply be lost motion. The length of the feedingstroke desirable will depend, of course, upon the size and type of theindividual terminals in the strip and the spacing between terminals. Fora long feeding stroke pin 82 should be positioned in holes 92; for ashort stroke it should be positioned in holes 86; and for a stroke ofintermediate length it should be adjusted in some set of intermediateholes. I have found that for most cases the feed finger can be caused toride over the abutment of the next terminal in the series of terminalsand not too far beyond merely by selecting some one of the five sets ofholes in the leaves of bracket 78 for pin 82. In special cases. certainof the parts of the assembly may be replaced by special parts.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the machine incorporates a strip of terminalsindicated at connected in end-toend fashion and carried upon a reel 122.The reel is supported by a horizontal arm 124 projecting from a post 126 (see also FIGURE 3) carried by a bracket 128 extending from casting26. The leading end of strip 120 is brought downwardly from reel 122,around a flexible guide 130, below feeding assembly 22, and toward theregion of terminal application centered in applicator 24. Reel 122contains a considerable mass and in order to isolate it from successivejerks applied on strip 120 by feeding finger 112 I provide the guide 130in the form of a resilient leaf spring which flexes through its inherentresilience to absorb the jerks imposed upon the strip by the feedingmechanism. The result is that the feeding mechanism is enabled regularlyto advance the leading end of the strip into the region of applicationwith rapid acceleration and deceleration without interference caused byinertia effects which otherwise would be imposed by the relatively heavymass carried upon reel 122. The flexing of guard 130 permits the leadingend of the strip to advance suddenly and causes the trailing end of thestrip to uncoil from the reel gradually and evenly as the strip isconsumed.

The leading end of strip 120 advances to the region of applicationacross the upper surface of platform 131 formed by the rearward portionof bed 62 (see also FIG- URES 4, 6, 7 and 10). The leading end of strip120 is supported from below by platform 131 and is prevented from movingsidewise on the surface of the platform, to the right or left as viewedin FIGURE 5, by a pair of guide plates 132 and 134. Guide plate 132 isprovided with a pair of adjustment slots 136 and adjustment screws 138.Guide plate 134 similarly is provided with a pair of adjustment slots140 and adjustment screws 142. By means of these pairs of slots andscrews the positions of the guide plates upon the surface of platform1.31 may be adjusted, laterally to the right or left as viewed in FIG-URE 5, so as to form therebetween a guide channel of controllable widthaccurately fitted to the particular strip of terminals to be applied.For any given width of strip the guide plates are clamped upon the bedso as to present a channel directed into the region of application andthrough which the leading end of the strip of terminals loosely butaccurately slides.

It is desirable that the leading end of strip 120 be firmly held againstplatform 131. Accordingly. there provided a floating drag block 144 (seeFIGURES l and 3) which overlies the terminal guide channel. Block 144 isretained in place by a pin 146 passing transversely through the blockand upon which the block is loosely journaled. Pin 146 is rigidlycarried in the upper end 1-"33 of a bell crank lever 150; this lever ispivotally mounted 7 upon a stud 152 set in bed 62. The lower end 154 ofthe bell crank lever projects downwardly to form a lifting handle bywhich block 144 may be lifted. Ordinarily the weight of handle 154 actsby gravity to urge block 14-: downwardly toward platform 1.31; for sometypes of strip it is well to reinforce this action with a spring. Whenthe leading end of a strip of terminals is resting upon platform 131between plates 132 and 134, the upwardly turned ferrule-forming ears ofthe trip will ordinarily extend above the surface of plates 132 and 134so that the bottom surface of drag block 144 will rest upon the ends ofthe upwardly projecting portions of the strip. Thus drag block 144, withthe aid of the downward force supplied by the weight of lever 154, plusany spring force desirable, serves to maintain the advancing end of thestrip firmly seated in the guide channel. The friction upon the strippresented by the drag block and its related parts is sufiicient toprevent the strip from moving backwardly upon the return stroke of thefeeding finger when it moves to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 4, toride over the next abutment of the adjacent terminal to the rear.

The lowermost portion of feeding finger 112 is centered in the guidechannel between plates 132 and 134 and acts between drag block 144 andthe region of terminal application. As the feeding mechanism causes thefeeding finger to travel forwardly and rearwardly, the lower end of thefeeding finger slides to and fro within the guide channel between theregion of application on its left (see FIGURE 4) and drag block 144. Aspointed out above, when the correct feeding limit of finger 112 has beenset by adjustment screw 1G8, and when a suitable length of feedingstroke has been selected with the aid of adjustment pin 82, thelowermost portion of the feeding finger will ride to and fro within theguiding channel and will push against a terminal feeding abutment on itsforward stroke to advance the series of terminals with each cycle of themachine by an amount exactly equal to the distance between terminalabutments. And during the feeding operations plates 132 and 134, withthe aid of platform 131 and drag block 144, will oontinue to guide theadvancing end of the strip into its correct position in the region ofapplication.

In the illustrative form the applicator contains die members of thegeneral type described and claimed in the applications of James C. Macy,Serial No. 679,630, filed June 27, 1946, now Patent No. 2,577,126, andSerial No. 717,842, filed December 23, 1946, now Patent No. 2,600,012.Essentially the applicator embodies a series of elements selected from arange of sizes of such elements so as to build in assembly suited to theparticular configurations of the illustrated strip 120.

An important feature of my invention stems from the fact that theapplicator assembly required for shearing and crimping neatly anydesired terminal can be built up from a few easily produced elementsselected. from an assortment of such elements. In accordance with thisfeature of my invention a user maintains on hand a stock of shearingblades and plates running through a range of sizes and thicknesses, astock of crimping dies-males and femaleS-cxtending over a range of sizesand through different crimp varieties, and an assortment of shims,spacers, and the like. Most of these elements, as will be observedhereinafter, are little more than hardened flat plates, sometimes shapedin certain respects, easily fashioned from tool steel or other suitablematerial. Each element in itself is relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, even with high degree of precision, and the total cost ofthe elements which, locked in combination, form a unitary subassembly isSubstantially less than the cost to make a single ordinary tool ofequivalent function, e.g., as used in ordinary punch press work. Inaddition, the various individual elements may be combined in manydifferent Ways so as to give the equivalent of many different tools, butat no additional cost. And, of course, worn or dulled r bed of themachine, as the case may be.

elements can be replaced at will without scrapping the entire unit orshutting down while the tools are reworked.

My invention contemplates a system for identifying every element inevery size along with a cross-referencing chart reflecting the crimpingand shearing requirements of each one of the considerable number ofdifferent terminal strips available. Thus, knowing that a certainterminal is to be applied, the means for applying it can be had and putinto operation within a matter of minutes merely by selecting from thestock of elements those shown on the chart as necessary for thatterminal; for having selected the necessary elements, it is a routineprocedure to stack them on bolts in the order shown on the chart and tothread the bolts firmly into place on the ram or The chart also includesa compilation of the correct settings of feed adjustment pin 82 for eachof the diiierent strips of terminals.

In the illustrative form of my invention, FIGURE 9 shows the subassemblycarried by ram 46. It includes a shear blade 156, a spacer 158 and acrimper 160. The parts are fastened into the ram by means of screws 162and 164 passing through aligned holes and threaded into the base of theram.

As shown in FIGURE 10, the parts of the subassembly carried by bed 62include a shear plate 166, spacers 168, a slug plate 170, an anvil 172,and an anvil bracket 174. Anvil 172 is screwed to bracket 1.74 by ascrew 176. The parts of the subassembly are clamped in position in bed62 by screws 178 and 180.

The applicator assembly further includes (see FIG- URES 4 and 11) astripper plate 182 carried upon a stripper bracket 184 secured upon bed62 by a screw 186. In addition, the assembly includes (see FIGURES 4 and12) a guard plate 188 adjustably secured upon bed 62 by screws 190 and192 passing through a slot 194 in the plate,

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 10, screws 138 (see FIGURE 6)thread into openings 194 in bed 62. Screws 142 are threaded intoopenings 196. Screw 178 threads into opening 198 and screw threads intoopening 200. Screws and 192 thread into openings 202 and 204 and screw186 threads into opening 206.

It will be appreciated that upon each cycle of the machine a shearingand a crimping operation are performed. The end terminal is sheared fromthe series of terminals and is crimped onto a wire oriented within theregion of application. In some instances, depending upon the characterof the terminal to be fabricated, it is convenient to shear a slug frombetween the end terminal and the next terminal and, where a slug is tobe removed from the strip, slug plate 170 may also function as ashearing plate along with shear plate 166. In this instance shear blade156 completes a severing operation against each of the members 166 and170. The width of the slug so removed will depend upon the width ofblade 156 and the corresponding spacers 1.63.

As illustrated in FIGURE 7, the central portion of shear plate 166,below its shearing edge, is obliquely relieved, as indicated at 267, sothat in those instances where plate 166 is used in removing a slug aclearance space will be presented through which the slug may be ejected.I have found it useful to provide such elements as shear plate 166 withcutting edges on both top and bottom so that when one edge becomesdulled the element may be inverted and efficient production may promptlybe continued.

As also illustrated in FIGURE 7, blade 156 is provided with a pair ofheels 208 which at all times remain in sliding relationship within thesubassembly clamped upon bed 62 and between spacers 168. Bed 62 isprovided with a slot 210 into which the lower ends of heels 208 may passwhen the ram bottoms and through which a slug may fall in thoseinstances when a slug is sheared from between adjacent terminals. Asshown in FIGURE 5 a sloping surface 212 is provided below slot 210 fordiverting slugs outwardly from the machine Where they may be collectedas scrap material.

The purpose of stripper plate 182 is to dislodge those terminals which,after the ram bottoms, tend to stick in the female crimper. The purposeof guard plate 188 is to assure that the operator shall notinadvertently have a finger in the region of application when the rambottoms. A slot 214 in plate 188 straddles die portion 216 of anvil 172and together slot 214 and the die surface aid in funneling the ends ofthe wires correctly into the region of application. FIGURE 4 illustratesthat when the parts are at rest the leading terminal is in crimpingposition on the surface of the die portion of anvil 172.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, casting 26 is fitted with a counter 218operated by a push rod 220 cooperating with a cam surface 222 cut in ram46. Thus, each time the ram bottoms the counter registers the nexthigher number. Such counters are generally Well known in the art.

From the foregoing it will be seen that an automatic terminal applyingconstruction made in accordance with the present invention is Welladapted to attain the ends and objects hereinbefore set forth and to beeconomically installed and operated since both the construction and itsmethods of operation and use are suited to common production practicesand are susceptible to a Wide latitude of variations as may be desirablein adapting the invention to different applications.

Altho I have described the invention above as applied to a particulartype of pneumatic press and with a particular type of terminalconnector, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it isgenerally applicable with other types of presses and with other types ofelectrical connectors whether fed in integral strip form or otherwise tothe crimping position.

I claim:

1. A connector applicator mechanism for applying a plurality ofdifferent sized and shaped connectors onto wires comprising a pressincluding ram and bed members each having an open wall, a multipleelement die assembly including in combination opposed subassembliesadapted for relative reciprocal movement, each of said subassembliescomprising a plurality of replaceable die elements with at least one ofsaid elements being adapted to project into interleaved relation betweenportions of the opposed said subassembly, and subassemblies includingcrimper and anvil elements and a severing element spaced from saidcrimper and anvil for severing the lead connector from a connectorstrip, and stacking means for aligning said subassemblies intorespective units and afiixing said units to the ram and bed Wallsrespectively whereby a desired die set may be quickly and easilyassembled from various combinations of elements.

2. A connector applicator mechanism for applying a plurality ofdiflerent sized and shaped connectors from a substantially continuousconnector strip onto wires comprising a press including ram and bedmembers each having an open side wall, a multiple element die assemblyincluding in combination opposed subassemblies adapted for relativereciprocal movement, each subassembly comprising a plurality ofreplaceable die elements having a pair of mounting holes therein with atleast one of said elements being adapted to project into interleavedrelation between portions of the opposed subassembly, said subassembliesincluding crimper and anvil elements and a severing element spaced fromsaid crimper and anvil for severing the lead connector from theconnector strip, and a pair of aligned bolts fitted to said holes tohold thereon the elements of said respective subassemblies and adaptedto clamp them to the ram and bed walls respectively whereby a desiredset may be quickly and easily assembled from various combinations ofelements.

3. A connector applicator mechanism for applying a plurality ofdiflerent sized and shaped connectors onto wires comprising a pressincluding ram and bed members each having an open Wall, a multipleelement die assembly including in combination opposed subassembliesadapted for relative reciprocal movement, each of said subassembliescomprising a plurality of replaceable die elements, said subassembliesincluding crimper and anvil elements and a severing element spaced fromsaid crimper and anvil for severing the lead connector from a connectorstrip, and stacking means for aligning said subassemblies intorespective units and affixing said units to the ram and bed wallsrespectively whereby a desired die set may be quickly and easilyassembled from various combinations of elements.

4. A connector applicator machine for applying a plurulity of differentsized and shaped connectors onto wires comprising a press including ramand bed members each having an open wall, a multiple element dieassembly including in combination opposed subassemblies adapted forrelative reciprocal movement, each of said subassemblies comprising aplurality of replaceable die elements with at least one of said elementsbeing adapted to project into interleaved relation between portions ofthe opposed said subassembly, said subassemblies including crimper andanvil elements and a severing element spaced from said crimper and anvilfor severing the lead connector from a connector strip, stacking meansfor aligning said subassemblies into respective units and affixing saidunits to the ram and bed walls respectively whereby a desired die setmay be quickly and easily assembled from various combinations ofelements, means for storing a supply of preformed connectors sufiicicntfor substantial operation, and feeding means for sequentially advancingsaid connectors into said machine and in operative relation to said dieassembly, said feeding means having an adjustable stroke forcoordinating the connector feed with the pitch distance of said dieassembly, whereby to accurately position for application the connectorsof said different size and shape, respectively.

5. A connector applicator machine for applying a plurality of diflcrentsized and shaped connectors from a substantially continuous connectorstrip of preformed connectors onto wires comprising a press includingram and bed members each having an open side wall, a multiple clementdie assembly including in combination opposed subassenzblics adopted forrelative reciprocal movement, each snbassembly comprising a plurality ofreplacenble die elements having a pair of mounting holes therein with atleast one of said elements being adapted to project into interleavedrelation between portions of the opposed subassembly, said subassembliesincluding crimper and anvil elements and a severing element spaced fromsaid crimper and anvil for severing the lead connector from theconnector strip, a pair of aligned bolts fitted to said holes to holdthereon the elements of said respective subassemblies and adapted toclamp them to the ram and bed walls respectively whereby a desired setmay be quickly and easily assembled from various combinations ofelements, and feeding means adapted to draw preformed connectors of saidstrip scquentinlly from a supply thereof into the machine and to saiddie assembly, said feeding means being adjustable for properlypositioning the lead connector on the die elements selected to applyconnector strip of a particular size and shape.

6. A connector applicator machine for applying a plurnlity of differentsized and shaped connectors onto wires comprising a press including ramand bed members each having an open wall, a multiple clement dieassembly including in combination opposed subassemblies adapted forrelative reciprocal movement, each of said subassemblies comprising aplurality of replaceable die elements, said subassemblies includingcrimper and anvil elements and a severing element spaced from saidcrimper and anvil for severing the lead connector from a connectorstrip, stacking means for aligning said subassemblies into respectiveunits and afiixing said units to the ram and bed walls respectivelywhereby a desired die set may be References Cited in the file of thispatent or the original patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hodel Oct. 1,Halkyard June 14, Smith June 13, Smith Feb. 20, Kempton Nov. 12, PothierMar. 9, Bingham Sept. 6,

12 Bowman Dec. 6, Wroblewski Mar. 9, Liss Jan. 14, Phelps Dec. 15, PooleDec. 15, Holmes et a1. Aug. 23, Allison Dec. 17, Keller Aug. 15, BehrensDec. 30', Muther Feb. 2, Keller Jan. 18, Andrea Feb. 1, Carlson Mar. 19,Neuhaus Oct. 8, Dasher Apr. 8, Sirp Mar. 16, Voity June 26, Macy Sept.4, Martines Mar. 10,

